The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-10
SIXPENCES ON A TOMB.
CURIOUS CUSTOMS THAT ARE OBJ
SERVED IN LONDON.
Annual Gifts of Fruit to the Lord
Mayor-Why the Lion Sermon
Has Been Preached 900 Years.

Annual Gifts of Fruit to the Lord
Mayor-Why the Lion Sermon
Has Been Preached 25O Years.
In spite of all the reforms and aboli.
tions, it is scarcely known how many Gus.
toms, ''quaint and old, still remain in
London and are kept up in the city with
strict and punctilious observance and
particularly. For instance, says o
writer in TiRsleys Mdgasiae, in the month
! of August, in accordance with very an
cient custom in the city, the Master,
Wardens and court of Assistants of the
Fruiterers' Company wait upon the Lord
Mayor and the Lord Mayoress at the
Mansion House and present them with
a choice assortment of the fruit in season,
including grapes, pineapples, mel
ons, pears, apples, peaches, plums,
apricots and raspberries. The gift
consists of twelve bushels of APP
Piles of various kinds, which, neatly
packed in clean white baskets and
covered with napkins. were carried by
porters from harrington Market to the
Mansion House, preceded by the COM
pany's beadle with his gown and staff.
On the fruit arriving the Lady Mayoress
took charge of it and placed a bottle of
wine in each basket for the use of the
carriers, who were subsequently enter
tanned at dinner. In later years the form
of the present has changed, and instead
Of apples the choicest fruits of the season
are now annually offered
This custom was traced to the old
days when the Lord Mayor for the time
claimed, as of right, sample of all the
new fruit which entered the city, by way
of toll. The payment of this tribute led
to frequent disputes and unseemly
brawls between the servitors of the
Lord Mayor and the company, and the
matter was at length gracefully COM
promised by the agreeable custom which
now prevailed, and (Which he Cthe
Master) hoped would not be swept away
by the bold utilitarian spirit which pre-
vailed at the present day Following
the ancient usage, the Lord Mayor and
the Lady Mayoress entertained the
Master, Wardens and Court of the Com
pany at dinner afterward in the Egyp-
tian Hall, the guests numbering 500.
Various toasts appropriate to the'occasion
In the October of each year we hear of
"The Lion Sermon" being regularly
preached. Few think of asking what this
means, and yet there is pretty story as
sociated with it. 1t is preached in the
old, quantity named Church of st. Cath
crime Cree, in Leadenhall street. This
was the foundation of Sir John Gayer, a
Turkey merchant. On the 18th of Octo-
Der, about $50 years ago, he was in the
deserts of Arabia upon business which re-
qrHred his own personal attention. By
some means he became detached from the
caravan, and, while quite alone and un-
armed, he was much alarmed at seeing
lion approaching him. Scarcely know
ing what to do, he fell upon his knees
and asked the Lord to deliver him from
his perilous position. The lion looked at
him savagely, but, upon seeing him in
this position, after few moments walked
away in an opposite direction.
The merchant on rising from his knees,
made solemn vow that upon his safe re-
turn he would commemorate this provi-
dental deliverance by some benevolent
act. Upon reaching England he accord
ingly left sum of money to provide for
this sermon every year, in addition to a
banquet to the parish church of MS ma
tive town, Plymouth. He also literally
endowed many other charities, including
Christs Hospital. The Lion Sermon"
has been accordingly preached annually
on October 1G ever since. Last sermon
the clergyman took his text from the 34th
Psalm; 'The lions do lack and suffer
hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall
not want any good thing"
And again, a curious Good Friday
observance: At the church of Allhalows,
Lombard street, according to a custom
which has been observed for the last os7
years, sixty of the younger boys from
Christ's Hospital attended the service,
after which, in accordance with the will
of Peter Symonds, made in 1898, they
each received at the hands of the church
warden, Mr.. Shayer, new penny and
packet of raisins. The same will also
directs that the clerk and sexton shall
receive sixpence each, the rector of Chad
well, in Essex, twenty shillings, and the
poor of the parish and ward and the
children siXpence each.
A very ancient custom was also OBJ
served at st. Bartholomew-the-G Great,
Divine service was com
at II. At the conclusion of the
service an old tomb in the churchyard was
visited "a procession being formed), when
the Rev. j. Morgan laid twenty-one six
pences on the tomb, which were picked
up by twenty-one elderly females of the
parish. 1t is stated that an old lady left
this benefaction, and that she lies buried
in the churchyard, but the exact spot can
not be pointed out.